Crane



Aug. s 1924 E5Q3fi75 F. K. YIAL CRANE Original Filed Dec. 2 1919 5 an w-s e 1 i v DIE Di m Q8 5 4 R K AL 159mm CRANE Original Filed Dec. 22. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 5 1924.

F. K. vlAL cams Original Filed Dec. 22. 1919' 5 sh t s t z v 251M gwwy,

Aug. 5 19245 1,5@3,675

' T F. VIAL Original Filed Dec. 22. 1-919 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 5 1924.-

15%,675 F. K. V|AL "CRANE Origixial Filed Dec. 22. 1919 ssheets-shest 5 Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

iJNlTEfi STATES inertia earner QFEZQ FREDERICK K. VIAL, OF LA GRANGE, 1213111013,

A GQRPORATIDN OF MASSACHUSETTS.

columns, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOB. TO GRIFFIN WHEEL CRANE.

Application filed December 22, 1919,- Serial No. $416,533.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK K. VIAL, a citizen of the United States, residing in La Grange, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Cranes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates in general to apparatus for handling iron and the like. WVhile the invention as hereinafter illustrated is herein disclosed as embodied in an ap paratus for applying iron to the cupolas of the foundry it will be readily manifest as the invention is better understood that it has a much broader and more general application being capable of effective embodiment in apparatus for numerous other purposes.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for delivering material weighed to accurate quantity through a minimum handling of the ma terial and wholly or substantially wholly by mechanical power actuated devices of simple construction and operation:

Another importantobject of the invention is the provision of a new and improved apparatus for collecting and weighing the ma terial to be introduced as charges into foundry cupolas in accurately measured amounts.

Another important object ofthe invention is the provision of an apparatus for collecting and delivering cupola charges to trucks and requiring the attention of axminimum number of attendants. 7

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus in a single unitary structure for conveying and weighing heavy materials in large quantity the whole being movable throughout a range of track to'permit the material to be deposited or delivered into any of a number of trucks, cars or at a number of discharging points.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a movable scale mechanism which requires as an incident to its mobility ,a minimum clearance of floor space.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a gantry cranecor other crane mechanism with storage space for conveying material upon it, which material may be accumulated by the action of the crane for subsequent discharge.

Another important object of the inventlon is the provision of a gantry or other mov-V Renewed June 28, 1924.

able crane mechanism and provided with a storage space for conveying material to be mixed with other material moved by the crane prior to or at the time of discharge.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is bet ter understood from thefollowing description, which taken in connection with the accompanying drawings discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus in which my present invention is embodied;

2 is a horizontal schematic section through the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation of a portion of said apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal detail section showing the mechanism for tilting the scale pan.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown on the drawing a gantry crane comprising end frames 11 connected at their tops by the usual fabricated beam 12 and top frame 13. The whole apparatus moves as a unit upon tracks 1 1 on the floor or ground, the crane frame being provided with flanged rollers 15 of the usual character. Upon the top of the beam 12 are provided tracks 16 on which is mounted the crane truck 17 carrying the crane mecha nism and from which depends the cable 18 provided in the present instance with a lifting electromagnet 19. Suitable driving mechanism for moving the crane frame, for moving the crane on the tracks 16, and for raising and lowering the magnet 19 are provided but are not shown on the drawing in detail since they may be of any usual or preferred form and construction.

In one side of the frame 11 a platform 21 is'prov'id'ed and upon this is constructed a cab '22 within which an attendant may stand and operate the several controls provided to actuate the apparatus. These controls may be conveniently located in the cab as indicated generally at 23, the four represented being for controlling the movement of the apparatus as a whole, the movement ofthe crane on the tracks 16, the raising and lowering movement of the cable mechanism, and the supplying of current for the lifting magnet.

The platform 21 is made of considerable size and upon it are provided bins 24 and 25 in which may be accumulated material for subsequent discharge. A scale pan 26 1s provided on the platform and this pan has trunnions 27 pivoted upon bearings 28 extending up from a channel iron scale platform 29 ..located beneath the platform 21. The crane frame is provided with channels 31 at its bottom, upon which are fixed trans versely extending channel irons 32 support ing longitudinally extending channel irons 33 which provide supports for scale levers 34. These scale levers support in turn the scale platform 29 and the levers may have any usual or preferred construction being illustrated in the present instance as con sisting of two longer levers 35 fulcrumed at their outer ends on the channels 33 and sup- 7 supported from the levers 35.

porting the two outer corners of the scale platform adjacent the fulcrums, and two shorter levers 36 similarly arranged at the inner corners and extending into and being A11 indicating rod 37 extends up into the cab and permits the weight of material in the scale pan to be observed in the usual scale reading mechanism indicated diagrammatically at 38 in 2, the usual means being provided if desired to release the scale mechanism from the weight of the material as it is placed in the pan.

The pan, as has been started, is pivotally mounted upon the trunnions 27 and mechanism is provided to tilt the scale pan when it is desired to discharge its contents. This mechanism comprises a downwardly depending crank 41 pivoted at 42 to an edge of the scale pan and extending down into pivotal engagement with a crank shaft 43 having bearing at 44 upon the scale platform proper. This crank shaft is connected with a shaft 45 of an enclosed worm wheel 46 in turn moved by a worm 47 from a motor 48 by a gear train 49. The connection between the crank shaft 42 and the shaft 45 is through a shaft 51 in turn connected by two universal joints 52 and 53 respectively connected to the shafts 45 and 43 The purpose of this universal joint is to permit the slight movement the scale has in the weighing of the material without disturbing the shaft alinement or hampering the weighing operation. The shaft 45 is normally disconnected from the worm wheel 46 and is adapted to be connected thereto as occasion may require by a clutch connection as will now be described.

A clutch collar 54 is fast to the worm wheel and a companion sleeve or collar 55 is splined on the shaft 45 for longitudinal movement. Hand mechanism is also provided for tilting the scale pan and this comprises a hand wheel 56, mounted in the cab, upon a post 57 and having a sprocket chain connection 58 with the sprocket wheel 59 mounted loose upon the shaft 45, and having fixed to it a clutch collar 61 adapted for engagement with the opposite end of the clutch collar 55. The clutch collar 55 and the clutch collars 54 and 61 are so constructed and arranged that the clutch may be engaged with either by moving. it longitudinally of the shaft and preferably so constructed and arranged that the sleeve upon disengaging the one companion clutch collar will engagethe other. c

The scale just described is particularly adapted for use in foundries and the like and whenso used the bins 24 and 25 may be employed to contain respectively a supply of pig iron and scrap to be mixed with the bulk of the material deposited in the pan by the crane. V

The material of the bins may also be used to produce accurate scale weights or quantity of charge, the crane depositing nearly or slightly in excess of the accurate amount and the material taken from the scale pans or from the bins and placed therein to bring the charge to accurate balance.

A jib crane 71 may be provided if desired to transfer materials from the scale pans to the bins and vice versa as conditions may require. This crane may have any preferred form or construction. It is shown'on the drawing as comprising a boom or j ibpart 72' extending out from an upright 73, all moving about the axis of this upright. A truck 74 is movable along the jib part and carries an elevating magnet 75. It is believed that the action of this jib crane will be readily apparent from the drawing without particular description.

Figure 1 shows the arrangement 1n a foundry and discloses charging cars or bas-' kets 62 into which the scale pan may dump" when it is tilted and this maybe provided upon suitable tracks 63, of course, if desired.

It willbe. manifest that the operation of the entire apparatus of charging the cars 62 requires relatively few attendants and that desired amounts of material may be deposited in any of a series of trucks or in them successively or at various discharge points with a minimum of crane movement, weighing and other operation, and also that the apparatus may fill a number of charging cars without disturbing their arrangement on the tracks 63.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that variouschanges may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being mere- 1y a preferred embodiment thereof.

'I I- claim: 1.";In. an 'apparatus of'the character descr ibed ,the combination of agantry crane crane, a fixed reservoir bincarried on the, frame ad acent said dumping mechanism (ra se adapted to receive material from sad crane, and a scale mechanism associated with said dumping mechanism and adapted to weighthe material delivered onto said dampin mechanism from said crane or from an bin. 7

2.;In an apparatus 'ofthe character de- Scr'i ed g'the combination of agantry crane fr work, weighing and loading mechcarried by said frame workfor receivi g the material lifted by said crane directly rom a d" a se a ate s r bin i and in fixed lelationship to said mechn an apparatus ofL-tlie character des ri ed, the combinationjof a traveling crane, tracks in which said crane travels, and a weighing platform for receiving material directly from said crane and for weighing and dumping said material, and means on said platform for controlling the action of the crane.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a gantry crane, a platform mounted in a gantry crane frame, manually manipulative devices on said platform for controlling the action of the crane, and a tiltable scale on said platform for receiving material from said crane.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a gantry crane, a platform in the gantry crane frame, means on said platform for controlling the action of the crane, and a weighing mechanism on said platform for weighing the material delivered to it, said weighing mechanism having a pivotally mounted platform or pan adapted to discharge the weighed amount of material.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a gantry crane, a platform in the frame of said gantry crane, and means on said platform for mov ing said crane in the frame, and manually manipulative devices on said platform for moving said frame, and weighing mechanism on said platform for receiving the material from said crane.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising upright side frame members, a top crane track frame portion, and wheel supports from the ground, a gantry crane mounted in said top frame portion, and a weighing mechanism located in one of the side supports 'of said gantry frame and beneath said crane tra k frame p rt on.

8. In an apparatus of'the character described, the combination of a crane supporting fran'ie'work, a platform therein, a number of stationary bins on said platform, and a weighing mechanism also on said platformfsa'id crane being operable to deposit material in said weighing mechanism from the floor and ground and also from said bins.

9L'In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a crane supportingframeworlr, a platform therein, a number of bins on said platform, and a weighing mechanism also on said platform, said crane being operable to deposit material in said weighing mechanism from the floor and ground and also from said bins, and a transfer means on said platform for transferring material from said bins to said weighing mechanism and vice versa.

10.' Inan apparatus of the character described, the combination of a crane supporting framework, a platform therein, a number of bins on said platform, and a weigh.- ingmechanism also on said platform, said crane being operable to deposit material in said weighing mechanism from the floor and ground and also from said bins, and a jib crane on said platform for transferring material from said bins to said weighing mechanism and vice versa.

11. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a gantry frame and crane mounted therein, a platform movable with the frame, pivotally mounted weighing mechanism carried on said platform and adapted to receive material directly from said crane and to be tilted to discharge a weighed charge of material.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a gantry crane frame, a pivotally mounted weighing mechanism, a crane for delivering material directly to said weighing mechanism, and power means for tilting said weighing mechanism to discharge a charge of material.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a gantry crane frame, a weighing mechanism, a crane for delivering material to said weighing mechanism, power means for tilting said weighing mechanism to discharge a charge of material, and means for transferring material from the platform to the weighing mechanism and vice versa.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a gantry crane frame, a weighing mechanism, a crane for 15. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a gantry crane frame, weighing mechanism carried thereby, and a platform provided with receptacles disposed at the side and in fixed relationship with respect to said weighing mechanism for carrying material to be weighed and mounted in said frame.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a gantry crane frame, a'crane in said frame, a platform for carrying material fixedly mounted in said frame, and a weighing mechanism carried by the frame and in position to receive material to be weighed when delivered by said crane from the ground or from said platform. I

17 In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a crane supporting framework, a platform therein and a bin on said platform, a weighing mechanism associated with said platform and independent of said bin, said crane being operable to deposit material from the ground and from the bin into said weighing mechanism.

, 18. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a gantry crane, a framework having'spaced uprights adapted to be mounted on a track, a platform mounted on one of said uprights, a'

weighing mechanism on said platform, a

storagebin also on said platform but independent of said weighing mechanism, said weighing mechanism and said bin being adapted to separately receive material from said crane, and means for discharging weighed charges of material from said weighing mechanism.

1 9. In an apparatus of the character de: scribed, the combination of a gantry crane, a framework having spaced uprights charging weighed charges of material from said weighing mechanism.v

FREDERICK K. VIAL; 

